Status: 04.02.2023 2:30 p.m
Because of strong winds and fresh snow, avalanches are being warned in large parts of Austria. Two skiers, who were still off-piste, died in avalanches – one in Ötztal, one in Kleinwalsertal.
Another person died in an avalanche accident in Austria. In Kleinwalsertal, after a search operation, a skier could only be found dead under an avalanche. The man was outside the secured slopes.
His family informed the emergency services on Friday because he did not come home. The mountain rescue had to stop the search because of strong gusts of wind and poor visibility. According to an ORF report, the man had an avalanche beeper with him. The mountain rescue was able to locate the signal and finally found the man on Saturday. He was buried about a meter and a half deep.
The Kleinwalsertal is part of the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, but can only be reached from Bavaria. In both countries, the second highest avalanche warning level currently applies in many regions. Yesterday, a winter sports enthusiast died in an avalanche accident in the Tyrolean Ötztal – he too was off-piste.
A meter of fresh snow and strong winds
Regionally, more than a meter of fresh snow had recently fallen. Meteorologists expect gusts of wind on the mountains. Experts called on winter sports enthusiasts to be careful. “With the fresh snow and the wind, we have all the ingredients for increased avalanche activity,” said Patrick Nairz, spokesman for the avalanche warning service in Tyrol. Winter sports enthusiasts should stay on the slopes as much as possible.
By Sunday, there should also be significant amounts of snow above about 1000 meters. Road traffic was also severely hampered.